Director Policy

Expression of Interest Expressions of interest are being sought from current NSW Public Sector employees (ongoing and temporary) who wish to be considered for this temporary employment opportunity. Unique opportunity to bring executive level policy expertise to the Office of the 24-Hour Economy Commissioner within the Department of Creative Industries, Tourism, Hospitality and Sport. Public Sector Senior Executive (PSSE) Band 1 Temporary opportunity up to 6 months. Based in Sydney, NSW, with hybrid working supported. About the role This is a unique opportunity to play a leadership role in shaping the future of NSW’s 24-hour economy. The Office of 24-Hour Economy Commissioner works across government, industry, local councils and communities to build vibrant, diverse, inclusive and safe places across NSW. Through strategic policy, regulatory reform and place-based initiatives, the Office helps unlock social, cultural and economic opportunities that support thriving communities both day and night. As Director Policy, you will lead the development, implementation and evaluation of strategic policy initiatives that support the NSW Government’s vision for a vibrant and connected 24-hour economy. Reporting directly to the 24-Hour Economy Commissioner, you will provide policy advice on complex and often politically sensitive issues, lead ongoing implementation of the Government’s Vibrancy Regulatory Reforms and help drive other cross-government policy initiatives, and lead engagement across government, industry and community stakeholders. The role offers the opportunity to influence major government priorities and contribute to the delivery of the NSW 24-Hour Economy Strategy, helping create environments where businesses can thrive, communities flourish and people connect through safe and inclusive after-dark experiences. Key areas of responsibility include: Leading implementation and monitoring of the Government’s Vibrancy Regulatory Reform agenda Driving policy, legislative and regulatory change to support a vibrant, safe and inclusive 24-hour economy and place-based outcomes Overseeing stakeholder engagement strategies and partnerships to progress policy priorities and drive awareness and take-up of initiatives Providing expert advice to senior executives, Ministers and government decision-makers Driving cross-agency collaboration to deliver complex policy outcomes Leading high-performing policy teams and managing significant projects and programs Establishing governance, performance and evaluation frameworks that support evidence-based decision making About you You are a strategic and influential policy leader with extensive experience navigating complex government environments. You bring: Significant experience leading high-profile policy, legislative and regulatory reform initiatives Strong knowledge of NSW Government processes, protocols and decision-making frameworks Exceptional stakeholder engagement, negotiation and influencing skills Experience providing high-level advice on politically sensitive and complex issues A proven ability to build partnerships across government, industry and community sectors Outstanding leadership capability with experience building, mentoring and leading high-performing teams Strong project and program management skills, with the ability to deliver outcomes in fast-paced and evolving environments You are comfortable operating at the executive level, balancing competing priorities and achieving outcomes where you may not have direct authority. You are adept at translating complex challenges into practical, evidence-based policy solutions that deliver meaningful outcomes for the people of NSW. To learn more about the role, please click here to download the role description. How to apply This opportunity is open to current NSW Public Sector employees only. Your application must include: a one-page cover letter outlining your interest in the role and how your capabilities, knowledge and experience make you suitable an up-to-date resume (maximum 5 pages) that details your capabilities and experience in relation to the above role. Closing Date : Friday, 4 th September 2026 [10.00AM] Please contact Lisa Smith, Executive Talent Partner by email: [email protected] with any questions about the role or the recruitment process. Working at the Department of Creative Industries, Tourism, Hospitality and Sport At the Department of Creative Industries, Tourism, Hospitality and Sport we bring vibrancy to NSW by growing our creative industries and workforces, driving strong visitor and night-time economies, ensuring a responsible hospitality sector, and putting arts, culture and sport at the heart of our communities. Together we: create social and economic opportunities for the state support the creation of jobs across the creative, visitor and night-time economies prioritise First Nations artists, stories and culture ensure arts, culture and sport are at the heart of every community to be enjoyed and accessed by all drive visitation through events, campaigns and visitor experience development activate our night-time and creative economies to unlock unique precincts and community spaces deliver a vibrant and responsible hospitality, liquor, racing and gaming environment support NSW’s key Cultural Institutions to ensure access for all, enable community experiences and education and preserve the state’s diverse cultural assets and history. At DCITHS, we welcome applicants from diverse backgrounds, including people with disability, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, people identifying as LGBTIQ+, culturally and linguistically diverse people, carers and other diversity groups. If you require an adjustment to be made during the recruitment process or have an enquiry about the support provided, please contact Lisa Smith, Executive Talent Acquisition Partner at [email protected] or on 02 9228 5966. For more information on reasonable adjustments and types of alternate formats available through the recruitment process you can visit ‘Adjustments for Individual needs’ at I work for NSW.